· June, 2009

Stories about Western Europe from June, 2009

Algeria: On France's burqa ban

Algerian-American blogger The Moor Next Door remarks upon France's intended burqa ban, saying, “The trouble the French may want to worry about is not the burqa as it is worn in France today, but that such a ban, as the headscarf ban has done, will make the garment a greater...

Greece: Bloggers interview Iranian protesters

With the clampdown on journalism and communications in Iran, most Greek mainstream media have resorted to conveying reports from social media, second or third-hand, through western news organizations. Some Greek bloggers have helped bridge gaps in reporting by interviewing Iranian protesters contacted on Twitter themselves, or by posting news from acquaintances in Iran and abroad.

Confederation Cup: Egypt beats World Champions Italy in Football Victory

Egypt moved closer to reaching the semi-finals of the Confederation Cup after a famous 1-0 win over Italy, the world champions. After the match, many Egyptians took to the streets loudly beeping their car horns at midnight. Streets became crowded after traffic was light during the match. Young men were seen hanging from the windows of moving cars, cheering and waving Egyptian flags. Tarek Amr reviews messages on Twitter during and after the match.

Iran: Comparisons and Scenarios

  18 June 2009

Balkans via Bohemia looks at how the events in Iran “would play out vis a vis other successful and unsuccessful revolutions in the past two decades,” including those in Serbia, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine and China.

China, UK: Chinadialogue.net founder awarded OBE

  18 June 2009

Isabel Hilton, the founder of Chinadialogue.net, a bilingual English-Chinese website about the environment, was admitted to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her work promoting environmental awareness in China.

Bermuda: Guantanamo Protest

  17 June 2009

As Bermudians continue to react - unfavourably for the most part - to their government's acceptance of former Guantanamo Bay detainees as full citizens of the tiny island, bloggers comment on yesterday's protest and what the public outcry could mean for the nation's Premier.

Bahrain: Cultural Comparisons

Bahraini blogger Cradle of Humanity, who has spent time studying both in the UK and the US, has come to a conclusion that surprises her: “I think I came to Cleveland expecting to find Cardiff, and that’s why I was shocked…What’s amazing is that Cleveland has more in common with...

Bermuda, USA, UK: Fallout over Guantanamo

  16 June 2009

Bermudian bloggers still have not stopped talking about their government's agreement to have four detainees of Guantanamo Bay to resettle on the island. Most of their focus seems to be on the fallout that Premier Ewart Brown is facing following the controversial decision.

Netherlands: 80th birthday of Anne Frank

  13 June 2009

The website of the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam commemorates the 80th birthday of Anne Frank by listing activities in the Netherlands and around the world which are organised to mark the occasion.